West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday condemned what she called the brutal oppression and persecution of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states, as she highlighted the death of a migrant worker in Sambalpur, Odisha, on December 24.
On X, Banerjee said, "We stand by those oppressed, terrified, and tortured migrant Bengali-speaking families, and we will provide all kinds of support to those families." She added, "Speaking the Bengali language cannot be a crime." Banerjee also said Bengal would extend financial assistance to the family of the deceased.
The Sambalpur incident involved three migrant workers from Murshidabad who were attacked, with two escaping and one, Juyel Rana, beaten to death over suspicion of being Bangladeshi after he spoke Bengali. Police said the attack was not targeted but linked to a fight over a beedi.
A West Bengal police team was dispatched to Odisha to assist the investigation after a case was lodged at the Suti police station in Murshidabad. The body of Rana was brought home to his native district, and the district administration pledged full support to the family as the police promised punishment for the guilty. There has been no immediate response from the BJP or the Odisha government.
Banerjee's comments underscore the fears of migrant workers returning home from Odisha, and she urged continued support for affected families.
